Home laundry equipment



F. KELLERMANN Feb. 4, 1941.

HOME LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVR.

F'fZ/X Af/Zf/PMH/V/V,

Filed June 18, 1938 ATTORNEY.

1941- F. KELLERMANN 2,230,224

' HOME LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT i Filed June 18, 19:58 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 4, 1941- F. KELLERMANN 2,230,224

' HOME LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT Filed June 18, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 51W Ya ORNEY.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 18, 1938 INVENTOR. FIX/X KIZZf/P/Vfl/V/V,

w 4 5 5 a 3 m a 0 i x w 72 I. 2 7 Es ll 1 o n wa 7 W 6 m 4 J KIN 16E z i 0 NW 2 ATTORNEY.

F. KELLERMANN 2,230,224 norm LAUNDRY E uImENT Feb. 4, 1941.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 18, 1938 iff/WW1 T'TORNEY.

I Patented m; 4,1941 I UNITED STATES norm murmur EQUIPMENT Felix Kellermann, Bronx; N. Y..

Application June 18, 1938, Serial No. 214,480

ldclaims.

This invention relates to home laundry equipment, and more particularly to stationary installation's thereof.

The invention contemplates the attachment of 5' mechanism to a set or stationary washtub in the home, and more particularly it contemplates the design of attachable laundering devices: it also contemplates devising adapter means and devices, whereby an existing set tub construction 1o canbeutilizedasabase.

Objects are to mechanize and to facilitate ';launderingprocesses in the home by utilizing existing stationary washtubs for the installation of mechanism thereon, and using the tub as a 1! component part in the functioning and practical operationof the mechanism; to design an improved ironer; to provide relatively low-priced home laundry equipment; to provide a practical washing and ironing unit; to provide laundry Q equipment that is compact in' arrangement, uni- ;tary and sightly; and to provide practical and secure adapter means for conventional-set tubs in homes.

Another object is to take advantage of the u operating.surface represented by the top cover face of existing set washtubs by cooperatively asiociating with the surface devices attachable to he tub.

Present-day home labor-saving devices pro-,

30 vide honing equipment that must be operated in conjunction with the conventional movable caster-supported washing .machine' unit although this is a relatively unstable base for the ironer with inadequate operating facility for the a attendant, and upon which unit theironer constitutes a top-heavy burden, cumbersome to ma nipulate and to detach if detachment be required. A more elaborate, although more expensive ironing equipment is known to be a mov- Y able caster-supported ironing unit in itself, with *motorized drive.

Therefore, other objects are to provide ironing equipment-tor the home, which is mechanicaliy stable; which is convenient to operate; and

whichcanbeattendedtoingeneralwithaminh.

viding a vertical operating post which is attachable outwardly of andto a suitable wall portion of a set tub; and by providing vertical shafting functioning in a. tubular member attachable outwardly oiv and to a wall portion of a set tub. Still other objects are attained by providing a suitable ironing device as of the roller type in conjunction with the side wall of a set tub.

Some features comprise improved drive mechanism for an ironer of the roller type; improved m mounting of the ironing roller; and improved clutch means.

According to another feature, an ironer of the roller type is adapted for attachment and operation indiscriminately on. either side of the tub, 5 and more specifically it hasa circumferentially adjustable ironer Jacket, and motor reversal means. 7

According to another feature the ironing 'roller is quick-separable from the ironer drive head.

According to another feature an ironing attachment comprises a motorized ironing unit and sustaining bracket means fixedly attachable to the tub by way of portions extending over'and under an upstanding wall portion of the tub.

According to anotherfeature ironing attachment comprises a motorized unit, namely, an ironing roller and supporting drive head therefor, an operating post for the drive head, and a motor. supported from the operating post. 30

According to another feature an operating post, or vertical shafting having adjustable mountings or bracket means comprises clamping jaws adapted to grip over and under a suitable lipa standing wall portion of the tub.

According to another feature, a post is attachable to the side of the tub by way of an upper and a lower bracket portion, which bracket portions extend from respective upper and lower portions of an adapter clamping construction designed to grip over and under an upstanding wallportionofthetub. f

According to another feature an operating post is attachable to ant-upstanding wall portion of the tub, which best comprises a tubular member a and motorized drive means supported from the lower end of the tubular member. v

Still another feature has-to do with a vice-likeadapter bracket construction designed to grip overandaroundatop edgeportionandunder' an upstanding wall portion of a settub, and having a device receiving portion or socket portion associated with the upper jaw portion.

According to one of a number of possible embodiments, an ironing attachment comprises an I operating post having a stationary tubular member or shaft-housing from which an upper and a lower adjustable jaw portion extendinto gripping engagement with an upstandingwallportion of the tub. A motor constitutes part of the attachment and is associated with and mounted at the foot end portion of the post. The head portion of the postcarries an improved ironer drive head which is angular-1y positionable-in a horizontal plane, and has' an efiectively long sustainingbase or driving sleeve for a quick separable ironing roller shaft. A heating element or ironer jacket is circumferentially positionable or tiltable about the shaft axis with respect to a chosen direction of rotation of the ironing roller. A clutch is operable by way of a sleeve-like hand piece surrounding the post.

The invention possesses other objectsand features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth in the following description. In the following description and in the claims, parts will beidentifled by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. In the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated the best embodiment of the invention known to me, but such embodiment is to be regarded as typical only of many possible embodiments, and the invention is not to be limited thereto.

The novel features considered characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following "description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view upon a set tub with adapter mechanism according tothis invention mounted thereon, an ironing. device being shown swung tion and in cooperative relation to the tub cover surface.

Fig; 3 is an enlarged end view of the ironing device mounted upon an adapter post, with superficially adjustable heating jacket.

Fig. 4 is a part sectional side view of mechanism shown in mg. 3,with parts shown removed.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of mechanism shown in Fig. 3.:

Figs. 6 and '1 show a modification in the ar- -'rangement, mounting and reversibility of the heating jacket for the roller.

Figs. 8 to 11 show individual views of the adapter post and drive means therefor, and of an adapter clamp device or bracket construction.

In Fig. 2 adapter mechanism is assembled on a rear wall portion ll, ventical side wall portions l4 and "respectively, and-a bottom portion it from which leads adrain plumbing connection II. The. tub is shown to have hinged thereto a conventional cover Ila. The adapter mechanismas herein shown :by way of example is designed to be detachably securable optionally to either side wall portion of the tub. and in Fig. 2. it is shown to be attached to the right-hand side wall it of the tub. Anwrppe'r clamping. jaw member is grips over the top edge portion of the wall, and a lower clamping jaw member l9 grips under a corresponding bottom edge portion of the wall. For better seating, a strip of flexible material l8a, for instance leather or rubber, is shown to be interposed between the upper iaw portion I8 and the top edge portion of the tub. In Fig. 1 the lower clamping jaw member is shownto have a pair of'prongs Na and Nb appearing symmetrically spaced with respect to the upper jaw member 18. Both law or clamping portions l8 and I9 are securable in a firmvice-like grip over and under the respective wall portion of the tub, and in this embodiment and by way of example they are shown to be interconnected by way of .a tubular member 20.

The upper end of the tubular member has fixed thereto or screwed thereon as at 20 a socket-like or cup-shaped head portion 2|. Tubular member 20 and head portion 2| constitute what is herein termed the adapter post designated by the numeral Ma. The head 2| of .the adapter post is 20 shown to have symmetrical bracket portions 22 rigidly extending therefrom, whereby it is adjustably connected to :the upper jaw portion It as by bolt and nut connection 23, the bolts extending through slotted openings 24 in' the bracket portions 22. Riflled or friction-a1 interengaging faces 25 and 25a are shown to be provided upon the bracket portions 2-2 and upon the upper jaw memtion adapted to engage over and under a suitablevwall portion of the tub, a tightening nut member 21 being shown to engage upon the lower end portion of the post for securing the body portions l8 and It in firm clamping connection relative to the tub.

Within the'tubular member 20 or else within the adapter. post 2la. there extends a rotatable drive shaft 28 driven at its lower end by mech-anism by way of example shown to comprise a worm gear "and a worm 30, surrounded by a housing 3| shown to befixed to or unitary with the tubular member 20. A drive motor 32 is mounted upon the lower side of the housing ii and has driving connection 32a with the worm I0.

Up and down slidable upon the tubular member 20, is a handpiece or sleeve 33 for manipulating a clutch hereinafter to be described. The

socket-like head portion 2| of the post is shown to have. a longitudinal partial split 34 to effect clamping connection with a device such as the.

ironing device herein shown, and driven by shaft 28,. Consequently, the head portion 2| also has a clamping handle or lever 35 or the like.

Anironing device collectively designated by the numeral 36 is herein. shown to be cooperatively associated with the cover top surface or table face oflered by the top portion of the tub.

that is to say, 'by the hinged cover Ila thereof. This cover serves'as a convenient operating surface when the ironer is in use (see Fig. 2).

' i In order to gain access to the. interior of the tub when the cover must be opened. or else when the top cover surface is to be used for other purposes, the ironing device is swung out of the way as indicated in Fig. 1, after the clamping grip on the head portion 2i hasbeen released, and according to the embodiment shown, the ironing device is so constructed that the relatively light ironing roller can be quickly separated from the relatively heavy ironer drive head 38, which latter is thus left in place.

The details of the ironing device 36 will now be described: I

The ironing roller 31 has a central supporting shaft 46 or the like herein shown to have a slightly conical free end portion 4i provided at 'so' as to establish operative driving connection between the sleeve member 46 and the shaft portion 4|.

The sleeve member 46 is mounted in a housing 41 by way of a pair of, bearings 48 and 48, spaced from one another as indicated by the distance D. The housing 41 is longitudinally split and hence comprises a lower body portion 56 and an upper or cover portion 5i, both portions securable to one another as by screw bolts Ma. The body portion 50 has a downwardly extending hollow neck portion 52 the length of which is defined by a shoulder portion 53, and which neck portion fits into the socket-like head portion 2i of the adapter post herein variantly also called operating post, and is rotatably positionable therein and can be fixed in an'adjusted position by way of the clamping handle 35. The shoulder portion 53 is shown to rest upon the corresponding annular top portion of the socket-like head 2i as by way of an interposed bearing ring or annulus 54 or the like.

The driving sleeve member 46 has a ball thrust bearing 56, to define the position longitudinally of the sleeve member relative to the housing and to take thrust from the driving elements'hereinafter .described. j

The driving sleeve member 46, in order to be drivenby the vertical shaft 28, is provided with a bevel gear 51 rigid therewith, which bevel gear is disposed intermediate the end portions of the driving sleeve member 46 and interposed between the bearings 48 and 48. A companion bevel gear;

51a is rotatably mounted in the lower neck portion of the body portion 60 of the housing, as by way of suitable bearing means indicated by ball bearing 58. The bevel gear 61a has a downwardly extending stub shaft 63 terminating in a square portion 60 fitted into a clutch member 8i whichconstitutes the one section or upper half of the above mentioned clutch. for the drive shaft 28. Theclutch member .6I has "clutch teeth 62 and is shown to be fixed. to the stub shaft 53 by way of an interior shell portion 63 held, by ascrew 64 which is threaded axially into the square portion 66 of the stub shaft 69. It will be seen that the upper extreme end portion of the vertical shaft 28 rotatably fits into and finds its lateral guidance within the clutch member 6i and more specifically it finds its bearing in the shell portion 33. The complementary portion or lower half of the clutch is represented,

by a sleeve-like clutch member 65 having clutch teeth 66 adapted to engage the aforementioned clutch teeth 62, which clutch member 65 has a sliding fit upon a key member 61 provided upon shaft 28. The clutch is shown in its open and closed positions in Figs. 4 and 5 respectively and it is manipulated by way. of the aforementioned hand piece or sleeve 33 surrounding the tubular member 20 and slidable thereon. An inwardly protruding lug portion 68 of the sleeve 33 extends through a. slotted opening 69 in the tubular member 20 and lodges in an annular groove 10,

of the slidable clutch member 65. The hand piece 33 has a resilient detent finger Ii 'provided with a protrusion 12 which will hold the clutch engaged when the protrusion 12 snaps into the slotted opening 69 (see Fig. 5). engage the clutch, the detent finger ii is flexed outwardly and the hand piece 33 is moved down until the lug portion 68 thereof reaches the end of the slotted opening 69, while the detent finger ll then remains ineffective outside of the tubular member 20 (as shown in Fig. 4).

The ironer Jacket 39 and its mounting are now described, as follows:

The ironer jacket proper is diagrammatically represented by the usually electrically heated Jacket or body I3 held by a'rod'13a which in turn is gripped by a bracket member 14 and held in releasable clamping engagement therewith as indicated by a clamping handle 15. The bracket member I4 comprises a yoke-like body portion 16 and the lower end portion of each leg of the yoke is formed with an eye or bearing portion .11 and 18 respectively, which bearing portions engage and fit around corresponding cylindrical bearing In order to disportions or faces 19 and 88 of the housing 41 of ing the bracket member 14 upon the housing appears from Fig. 4 showing that the eye portion I8 has a removable half or .shell portion 8i securable by bolts 82. l The rod 73a is' remo'vably held in a predetermined longitudinal position upon the bracket member 14 by means of a resilient detent finger 83 (see Figs. 5 and 2) engag-' ing in an annular groove 84 of the rod 13a.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will benoted that the bracket member 14 is' tiltably adjustable upon the housing 41 as indicated by arrows 85 and 86 (see Fig. 3), permitting the Jacket body 13 to be positioned either to the right or to the left of the vertical center line of the ironing roller.v This adjustability is provided for the purpose of rendering the ironing device adapted for use indiscriminately at either side of the tub, depending upon preference, or with respect to whatever incumbrance might be found at one or the other side of the tub. Accordingly, it is also considered prises a pair of symmetrically disposed finger pieces 86 and 86 pivoted at 3| upon the outer end face of the housing 41 (see Figs. 3 and 5) and held resiliently togethe'r by a spring 82 interconnecting them. The finger pieces 68 and 80 are designed to engage in' the annular detention;

'the ironer drive head 38. The mannerof mount-.

pressure upon the button-like end portion 48 thereof. .The'securing device-88 is positioned by a pin 93 upon the outer end face of the housing With respect to rendering the jacket body I3 for the ironing roller more particularly adapted for use for both optional directions of rotation of the roller, a modification is shown in Figs. 6

and '1 according to which a rod 94 holding a jacket body 95 is releasably held upon or gripped by bracket portions or arms 98 and 91, extending rigidly from the top portion 84 of a housing Ill constituting the ironer drive head (see Fig. 6). The jacket body is designed for reversible mounting upon the rod 94 (as indicated by the dotted line position in Fig. 7) and-the respectivedirections of rotation of the ironing roller are indicated by corresponding arrows 99 and Ill.-

Fig. 8 shows an operating post mounted upon or held to the tub wall by an adapter bracket construction-comprising an upper jaw portion I04 and a lower jaw portion I" shown to be adjustably interconnected by way of overlapping por-' tiOns I06 and I01 and bolt and nut connection I08.

- Fig. 9 is effect similarto Fig. 8 except for the showing of a modified adapter bracket con-'.

struction having jaw portions I'M and Ill! having flange portions Ill and H! and bolt connection H3, and showing a motorized drive unitary the post and similar'to the one'in Fi 2.

Figs. 10 and 11 show an adapter bracket construction which comprises an upper jaw portion I15 and a lower jaw portion I I6 adjustably interconnected by a pair of rods or bolts or studs H5 screwed'into the upper jaw portion 5 and extending through bores in the lower jaw portion, and having nuts. Ill. The upper jaw portion is shown to have rigid therewith a clamping socket portion [l8 operable by a clamping handle H9. This socket portion 8 may receive and hold a device or in itself motorized apparatus in? dicated by" numeral I20, which can be advantageously used in connection with the tub or with the operating surface offered by the cover of the tub. Ears III, I22 are shown to extend laterally from the socket portion Iii, to permit of more diversified use of the adapter construction. Operation-The ironing device as a whole as described particularly with reference to Figs. 1 to 7 may be attached to an existing tub In by adjusting the .upper and lower clamping jaw portions l8 and I9 respectively to the vertical side wall of the tub, in such a manner that the upper jaw portion 18 engages or grips over the top edge portion of the tubwall,'and the lower jaw portion l8 engages under the bottom-edge portion of the tub wall. The jaw portions can bemade to grip the tub tightly, since the upper jaw portion 18 is adjustable with res t to the head portion 2| of the ironing device, and the lower'jaw portion adjustable with respect to the post or tube 20. Care should be taken that the tub cover I'Ia be closed when it is'to serve as an operating table or surface for the ironer.

The ironer drive'head ,3. may then-be inserted in the head portion 2| and fixed therein by-depressing the clamping handle 35. Then the ironing device proper designated b numeral 36 may be attached to the drive head 38 by applying thebracketmember 14 in the by means of the clamping handle II.

with I manner indicated in Fig. 4, which bracket mem- .ber in turn carries the ironer jackeii I3 by way of the rod 13d which is-fastened to the bracket Then may be applied the ironing roller 31 by inserting the shaft portion 4| thereof into thedriving sleeve 46 of the drive head 38,'so that the free end of the shaft portion 4| becomes engaged by the securing or detent device or latch members 88, which secure the axial position of the shaft portion 4| in the drive.head, while the teeth 46a of the ironing roller engage in the corresponding recesses 46b of the driving sleeve member 46. so as to secure the shaft portion 4i against rotation relative to the driving sleeve member 46..

Depending upon whether the ironing device is to be attached to the right-hand or to'the left- 7 hand side of the'tub, the ironing jacket I3. is adjusted by'setting the bracket I4 at an angle as shown in Fig. 3,- or at an angle opposite thereto. As a modification, the ironing jacket 85 in Fig. '7 can be changed from ,one totheother position by the symmetrical reversal of position thereof on its-supporting rod 94, which latter remains stationary during such change of reversal.

' II, to cause rotation of the ironing rollerfl and its coaction with the ironing jacket 13.

The motor I2 then rotates the vertical shaft 20 which by way of the engaged clutch portions I and ii rotates the bevel gears 51a and 51 and thereby impartsrotation to the driving sleeve member 46 in the journal bearings 48 and 49 in the housing 41, which in turnis identical with the rotation of the ironing roller I'I.

It is understood that the drive motor 324s to drive in the one or .the other direction.

1. In laundry apparatus as an attachment to a receptacle in the way of a stationary tub with upstanding wall. portions and having means for supporting said receptacle spaced from the floor, and having a top-cover adapted to serve as a table, an ironing unit attachable t'o'saidtub I and disposedtopermitsaidtopcover-tobeused as .a table inconjunction with the operation of the ironing unit, said ironing unit comprising a rotatable ironing roller, a bracket construction for operatively supporting said ironing roller relative to and upon saidreceptacle, and comprising an upright portion extending substantially the height of'said upstanding wall portions of the tub. and provided with an upper clamping jaw adapted to engage over the top edge portion ofan upstanding wall ofthe tub, and provided with a lower clamping jawadapted to engage under the bottom edge'portion of said tub wall,

which jaws are adapted and effective to support rod adapted to transmit drivingpowerto said iron- Y like element, which is supported; from the --ing rol1er,"and motor for driving said shaft-- 1 thereof.

2. In laundry apparatus as an attachment to a receptacle in the way of a stationary tub with upstanding wall portions and having means for supporting said receptacle spaced from the floor, and having a top cover adapted to serve as a table, an ironing unit attachable to said tub and disposed to permit said top cover to be used as a table in conjunction with the operation of the ironing unit, said ironing unit comprising a rotatable ironing roller, abracket construction for operatively supporting said ironing roller relative to and upon said tub, and comprising an upright portion extending substantially the height of said upstanding wall portions of the tub, and provided with an upper'clamping jaw adapted to engage over the top edge portion of an upstanding wall of the tub, and provided with a lower clamping jaw adapted to engage under the bottom edge portion of said tub wall,

' which jaws are adapted and efiective to support and fasten said bracket construction with reare operatively. supported by and in effect unitary with said bracket construction and adapted to drive said ironing roller.

3. In laundry apparatus having a receptacle with upstanding wall portions and having means for supporting said receptacle spaced from the floor, the combination witha driven device associable with the top portion of the receptacle, of a; construction for operatively supporting said driven device relative to and upon said receptacle, and comprising a hollow post extending substantially the height of the upstanding walls of the receptacle, an upper clamping jaw extending from the upper end portion of said hollow post and adapted to engage over the. top edge portion of an upstanding wall of the receptacle,

also comprising adjusting means for tightening the grip of said jaws with respect to said receptacle; and motorized drive means associated with said post and also operatively supported relative to the receptacle by way of said jaw for supporting said receptacle spaced from the floor, an attachment for said receptacle comprising a driven device associable with the top portion of the receptacle, of an upper and a lower clamping portion, said respective clamping portions to engage over the top edge portion of and under an upstanding wall portion ofthe receptacle and in gripping engagement therewith, a hollow post held rigidly in position with respect to the receptacle by way of saidclamping portions, a rotary shaft functioning within said post for transmitting power to said driven device, a gear coaxial with said shaft and disposed at the upper end portion. thereof for driving said driven device, and clutch means effective between said gear and said shaft, which means comprise a clutch sleeve longitudinally slidable upon said shaft for operative engagementand disengagement respectively with said gear, and having driving connection with the I upper end portion of said shaft, and clutch acwith upstanding side 'wall portions and having means for supporting saidreceptacle spaced from the floor, an attachable ironing device cooperatively associable optionally 'with either one of the side wall portions of the receptacle and comprising clamping means to grip over and under an upstanding wall portion oi the receptacle and rigidly associable with either the left,

or the right-hand side wall portion thereof, a rotatable ironing roller adapted to overlie and associable with the top portion of the receptacle, an ironer drive head operatively supporting the roller and in turn operatively supported relative to the receptacle by said clamping means,'

motorized drive means for said ironer head to drive said ironing roller, an ironer jacket oper-' atively supported by said drive head, means for operatively positioning the jacket circumferentially with respect to the roller corresponding 8. Apparatus according to claim '7, in which the means for operatively positioning the jacket comprise a bracket construction for the ironer jacket, which is adjustably fixable upon said drive head in amanner to permit adjustment circumferentially of the jacket relative to the roller and about the longitudinal central axis thereof.

9. Apparatus according to claim '7, inwhich the means for operatively positioning the jacket permit of optionally disposing the jacket in symmetrically reversible opposed positions with respect to the roller.

10. In an ironing device in combination a horizontally extending rotatable ironing roller having a shaft portion rotatable therewith, a drive head operatively supporting said shaft portion and having a housing, a rotatable driving sleeve member, journal means in the housing in operative contact with said sleeve .mmber for rotatably supporting the same, said sleeve member adapted to have inserted therein said roller shaft portion for separable driving relationship therewith, said shaft portion adapted to be supported by said rotary sleeve member and adapted to} engagement with said shaft portion, said shaft portion having a circumferential groove in whichsaid latch member is adapted to be lodged to engage said shaft portion during the rotation thereof.

12.111 an ironing device in combination a horizontally extending rotatable ironing roller having a shaft portion rotatable therewith,.a drive head operatively' supporting said shaft -portion and having a housing, a driving sleeve member rotatably mounted in said housing and adapted to have inserted therein saidroller shaft portion and to have quick separable driving relationship therewith; rotation preventing interengaging portions provided upon said shaft portion and upon the inner end portion of said operative rotation of the shaft with the sleeve sleeve member, the interengagement of which portions becomes effective incident to the inser tion of the shaft into the sleeve member; a'quick operable detent device cooperatively associated with the free end of said shaft portion and auto-- matically 'en'gageable therewith incident to the insertion of the shaft portion, which detent device is mounted upon said housing and'permits member while preventing axial displacement of the shaft relative to the sleeve member; and

motorized drive means for rotating the. sleeve member.

13. In an ironing device in combination a horizontally extending rotatable ironing roller hav- *ing'a shaft portion rotatable therewith, a drive headv operativelysuppo'rting said shaft portion and having a housing, a rotatable driving sleeve member, a pair of iournal bearings for supporting the respective ends of said sleeve memher for rotation in said housing, said sleeve member adapted to have inserted therein said roller shaft portion for separable driving rela- -ti0nship therewith, said shaft portion adapted to be supported by said rotary sleeve member and adapted to rotate therewith when said sleeve member is rotated. in its journal bearings; anddrive means having operative driving engagement with said sleeve member at a point intermediate said journal bearings, and comprising a torque receiving portion rotatingand having driving relationship with said sleeve member. 14. In laundry apparatus having a receptacle with upstanding 'wall portions and having means for supporting said receptacle spaced from the floor, the combination vwith a driven device associable with the top portion of the receptacle '0! means for supporting said driven device upon and with respect to said receptacle, a hollow post rigidly disposed adjacent to the outside of an up-' standing wall portion of said receptacle and in 00- operative association with said driven device, a

' rotary shaft functioning within said post for transmitting power to said driven device, means for supporting said post and said driven device upon and with respect to said receptacle, 9. gear coaxial with said shaft and disposed atthe upper end portion thereof for driving said driven device, and clutch means :eifective between said gear and said shaft, which means comprise a clutch sleeve longitudinally slidable upon said shaft for operative'engagement and disengagement respectively .with said gear, and having drlving connection with the upper end portion of said shaft, and clutch actuating. and manipulating means associated with, and extending through the wall of, said hollow post andinto operating engagement with said clutch sleeve. 

